CPU usage and audio

[Cluent]

I have quad-core computer. When listening to MP3s with Windows Audio Player and no other programs running, the CPU Usage monitor shows 10-12% usage. I have an on-board audio card.

Would a dedicated audio card take some of the load off of the CPU?

 

[zigzag3143]

I have quad-core computer. When listening to MP3s with Windows Audio Player and no other programs running, the CPU Usage monitor shows 10-12% usage. I have an on-board audio card.

Would a dedicated audio card take some of the load off of the CPU?

Probably not. Is 10-12% a problem?

 

[noobvious]

I have quad-core computer. When listening to MP3s with Windows Audio Player and no other programs running, the CPU Usage monitor shows 10-12% usage. I have an on-board audio card.

Would a dedicated audio card take some of the load off of the CPU?

That does seem a little high. I just tried it, with my wallpaper slideshow running to switcxh every 3 minutes, 5 tabs open in Firefox 3.6, and WMP playing an mp3 song, my CPU is fluctuationg from 0-3%, and I only have a dual-core.

However, zigzag brings up a good question....is that really a problem?

 

[Aphelion]

I have quad-core computer. When listening to MP3s with Windows Audio Player and no other programs running, the CPU Usage monitor shows 10-12% usage. I have an on-board audio card.

Would a dedicated audio card take some of the load off of the CPU?

Like others... I'm only showing a 0-2% use playing an mp3 using either Windows Media Player or Winamp.

Since you're using Windows Media Player I can think of two separate "enhancements" that might use CPU.

1. Visualizations can use considerable CPU, Alchemy-Random can suck up 15% of my CPU's resources.

2. Audio Enhancements. Check and see if you have any of WMP's audio effects active. Both "graphic equalizer" and "SRS WOW FX" can use CPU as can changing the play speed.

Ap

 

[Cluent]

You guys are right, to an extent. CPU usage starts out low (0-2%). After I turn on a visualization, the CPU usage goes up and it doesn't go back down after I go back to the normal view. Odd! As for Audio enhancements, I can never find the controls for those when I need them and have given up. It was much easier in the previous versions of Windows Media Player.

 

[Aphelion]

You guys are right, to an extent. CPU usage starts out low (0-2%). After I turn on a visualization, the CPU usage goes up and it doesn't go back down after I go back to the normal view. Odd! As for Audio enhancements, I can never find the controls for those when I need them and have given up. It was much easier in the previous versions of Windows Media Player.

If you have Media Player opening in Library mode, click on the small icon in the lower right, this sets media player to "Now Playing". Right click in the top Window border and you should see a menu with several selections, "Enhancements" is midway down.

Ap

 

[whs]

Enhancements can take a lot of CPU power. Just set "Disable all sound effects" for a test.

 

[Cluent]

If you have Media Player opening in Library mode, click on the small icon in the lower right, this sets media player to "Now Playing". Right click in the top Window border and you should see a menu with several selections, "Enhancements" is midway down.

Why can't I do that from Library mode? Makes no sense.

 

[Aphelion]

If you have Media Player opening in Library mode, click on the small icon in the lower right, this sets media player to "Now Playing". Right click in the top Window border and you should see a menu with several selections, "Enhancements" is midway down.

Why can't I do that from Library mode? Makes no sense.

Yet another Microsoft Mystery "Feature".....

Ap

 

[Cluent]

So would a dedicated sound card take over the Wow effects and reduce CPU usage?

 

[Aphelion]

So would a dedicated sound card take over the Wow effects and reduce CPU usage?

No, the windows media player effects are software based so it will pretty much be the same no matter the audio device being used.

The three enhancements that would use CPU are:
SRS Wow effects, Play Speed Settings and Graphic Equalizer.

Ap

 

[Cluent]

Any reason at all to buy a Soundblaster?

 

[Aphelion]

Any reason at all to buy a Soundblaster?

Guess it depends on what you want to do with audio?

Perhaps some others can chime in here.

Ap

 

[zezasu]

Any reason at all to buy a Soundblaster?

To have headaches. I joke but it produces better sound for some who are more audio savy (I noticed my audio sound worse with onboard but not so bad). I switched to my on-board because my sound-blaster was a piece of crap and would not mute if I plugged in headphones but thats another thing.

For video games it might help offload cpu usage that could be otherwise used for intense processes and or by video editing, encoding. Besides the occasional pop crack in my audio it is alright.